With the Empire cutting off the rebels' movements, Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar) suggests they open up a new hyperspace route via the Mandalorian colony of Concord Dawn.

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Fans will recognize the planet as Jango Fett's homeworld, where he was recruited by the Mandalorians and fought the Death Watch splinter group in the Legends continuity. How much of this will be drawn back into canon remains to be seen, but it's very cool that the planet itself remains part of the lore.

Commander Sato (Keone Young) and Sabine suggest they use force to drive the Protectors, a group of elite Mandalorian warriors, away from the planet, while Captain Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall) and Jedi Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) wish to forge an alliance with them.

As Hera, Sabine and Phoenix Squadron arrive at the planet in their A-Wings, they are accosted by a fighter group led by Fenn Rau (Kevin McKidd). Hera tries to negotiate, but Rau pledges his allegiance to the Empire and opens fire.

Two members of the squadron are cut down and Hera realizes she'll have to take desperate measures. She draws Rau away to give Sabine and the other Phoenix survivor a chance to escape to hyperspace.

However, Hera is caught in the Mandalorians' pincher maneuver and takes heavy fire. Her badly damaged fighter manages to limp back to the fleet behind Sabine, but her unconscious form in the smoking vessel is one of the most chilling images we've seen in "Rebels."

A medical droid announces that Hera will survive and a guilt-ridden Sabine swears to avenge her ally. She intends to sneak onto their base on one of the planet's moons and wipe out their fighters, crippling their forces.

Clone Captain Rex (Dee Bradley Baker) is familiar with Rau; their new adversary was a fighter pilot instructor for the Grand Army of the Republic and fought with Kanan at the Battle of Mygeeto.

Kanan insists on undertaking the demolition mission alone, with Chopper as backup, in the Phantom dropship. A defiant Sabine stows away and demands that the Jedi reveal his true intentions.

"I'm going to finish Hera's mission; we need to recruit the Mandalorians to join the rebellion," he admits, much to Sabine's irritation.

They stealthily land near the Protectors' base, with Concord Dawn's purple moon provoking a striking background, just as an Imperial shuttle touches down.

Sabine Wren prepares to do a little demolition. (Disney XD/Lucasfilm)

Our heroes overhear Rau informing his Imperial contact that they encountered a group of rebels as he accepts a sizable payment for his loyalty.

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Sabine remains skeptical about the diplomatic approach, so Kanan assures her that she can prepare the explosives and blow up the fighters if negotiations fail. The demolitions expert promises that Rau will die, too.

Kanan follows Rau to his quarters and the pair engage in polite conversation, aside from the Protector threatening to kill him. The Jedi reveals that Rao saved his life along with that of his late master, Depa Billaba, on Mygeeto.

"You gave me a chance to live that day," says Kanan, "Now I'd like to return the favor."

Issue 10 of Marvel's "Kanan - The Last Padawan" features a fun crossover with this episode. Surprisingly, it hits shelves on the same day the episode airs.

In an impressive feat of coordination, this event is depicted in the 10th issue of Marvel's excellent "Kanan - The Last Padawan," which is released on the day this episode airs. Disney are clearly working hard to reward fans who are keeping up to date with their "Star Wars" output. This comic series, which will end after issue 12, is essential viewing for all "Rebels" fans.

Sabine sets the majority of her bombs, but gets caught by the Protectors. Looks like these guys are a whole lot more dangerous than the Stormtroopers that the Ghost crew are used to dealing with.

When they demand to know where Sabine got her Mandalorian armor, she tells them she forged it with her family.

"I'm Clan Wren, House Vizsla," she says, revealing a connection to a character "Clone Wars" fans will remember well.

Former Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla troubled the Jedi through several seasons of that show, wielding the very cool Darksaber until he was defeated and publicly executed by Darth Maul.

Sabine admits that her mother was a member of the splinter group, before invoking "the code to seek justice through single combat." How very "Game of Thrones" — at least "Rebels" viewers can feel confident that the results won't be quite as horrifying as they were in that show.

Kanan continues his efforts to bring Rau over to the rebel cause, but the Protector firmly believes that might is right and the Empire will crush all resistance.

"In the end, everyone is their enemy," the Jedi says. "If we don't stand together, then we're all alone."

This gives Rao pause, but one of his men arrives to inform him about Sabine's challenge. She demands to fight Rau, while Kanan tries to defuse the situation.

The tension ramps up as the Mandalorians engage in a Mexican standoff. They draw and the lightning-fast Sabine manages to smoothly shoot Rau's blaster out of his hand.

"There are alternatives to killing," she says, before blowing up the fighters and leaving the base a burning mess.

Kanan activates his lightsaber and deflects blasts as she drags Sabine to the cover of Rau's quarters. As in any good Western, the Jedi throws a table onto its side to protect them from blaster fire.

Intending to inform the Empire of the rebel fleet's location, Rau runs to his fighter, which survived the blast because Sabine failed to completely wire the place to blow.

Kanan Jarrus provides Sabine with a little support after she detonated her explosives and crippled the Protectors' fighters. (Disney XD/Lucasfilm)

Kanan and Sabine quickly abandon their cover to chase Rau down, with the Jedi deflecting the fighter's heavy blaster fire to leap onto the hull. The Protector responds by taking off at full speed, forcing Kanan to hang on for dear life.

Sabine easily escapes the remaining Mandalorian grunts to rejoin Chopper in the Phantom and follow the speeding fighter.

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Kanan has a pretty hairy time as Rau tries to shake him off, but ultimately uses his lightsaber to destroy the flight controls before tearing his adversary from the cockpit and leaping to the Phantom in yet another amazing display of his Force powers.

"When you set your mind to something, you're kind of frightening" says an impressed Sabine.

A captive Rau regains consciousness, ordering his men to stand down and not to let the Empire know about his capture. The rebels are also to be granted safe passage through the system.

Back at the fleet, Kanan welcomes the handcuffed Rau to the rebellion.

"Right now, we are only friends because we have to be," responds the Protector, setting up fascinating dynamic for the episodes to come.

This instalment ends on a happy note, with Hera asking to see her returned allies. Sabine admits that she is glad not to have killed the Protectors, since they aren't their real enemies.

"Sabine, you're sounding more like a Jedi than a Mandalorian," says Hera, highlighting Kanan's influence on the former bounty hunter.